Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form:
Mauritius
Data code:
MP
Government type:
parliamentary democracy
Capital:
Port Louis
Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados
Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems,
Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne
Independence:
12 March 1968 (from UK)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 March (1968)
Constitution:
12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992
Legal system:
based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in
certain areas
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Cassam UTEEM (since 1 July 1992) and Vice President Angidi
Verriah CHETTIAR (since 28 June 1997)
head of government:
Prime Minister Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 27 December 1995)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections:
president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year
terms; election last held 28 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime
minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president and are
responsible to the National Assembly
election results:
Cassam UTEEM reelected president and Angidi Verriah CHETTIAR elected vice
president; percent of vote by the National Assembly—NA
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (66 seats—62 elected by popular vote, 4
appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to
give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year
terms)
elections:
last held on 20 December 1995 (next to be held by December 2000)
election results:
percent of vote by party—MLP/MMM 65%, MSM/MMR 20%, other 15%; seats by
party—MLP 35, MMM 25, allies of MLP and MMM on Rodrigues Island 2;
appointed were Rodrigues Movement 2, PMSD 1, Hizbullah 1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
government party:
Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]
opposition parties:
Hizbullah [Imam Mustapha BEEHARRY]; MSM/MMR alliance consisting of the
Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH] and the Mauritian
Militant Renaissance or MMR [Dr. Paramhansa NABABSING]; Mauritian Social
Democrat Party or PMSD [Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Mauritian Militant Movement or
MMM [Paul BERENGER]; Organization of the People of Rodrigues or OPR [Louis
Serge CLAIR]; Rodrigues Movement [Nicholas Von MALLY]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
various labor unions
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, InOC, Intelsat, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Chitmansing JESSERAMSING
chancery:
Suite 441, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX:
[1] (202) 966-0983
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Harold Walter GEISEL
embassy:
4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address:
international mail: P.O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy,
Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone:
[230] 208-2347, 208-2354, 208-9763 through 9767
FAX:
[230] 208-9534
Flag description:
four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green
